Magnetic brace



1957 G. SIMJIAN I 2,802,463

mcusnc BRACE Filed June 22, 1953 'FIG. I l

LUTHER c. smuum INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States l atent O MAGNETIC BRACE Luther G. Simjian, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to The Reflectone Corporation, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 22, 1953, Serial No. 363,217

Claims. (Cl. 128-87) This invention relates to magnetic braces used for bolding objects that are normally flexible such as parts of the human body when in a sprained or broken condition. It has particular reference to a means for stiffening a flexible container holding a quantity of magnetic powder.

Broken bones and seriously sprained parts'of the human body have been retained in a set position by a combination of splints, mechanical clamps, and plaster casts. These structures have proved effective and have been employed for many years. There are, however, several disadvantages to these clamps. It has been difficult to apply splints and clamps to exactly conform to the contour of the injured member and the use of plaster casts is hampered by the fact that it takes a considerable time for the cast to harden and in addition the cast must be broken or otherwise destroyed in order to massage the muscles at required intervals.

The present invention employs a flexible container partly filled with magnetic. powder which can be easily arranged to conform to any flexible object. The flexible bag and its contents can be stiffened in an instant by simply closing a switch and the stiffened member can be made flexible again by turning oif the current. This flexibility permits examination and massagingat regular intervals and facilitates setting and. subsequent examination.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved magnetic brace which avoids one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of prior art arrangements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brace for flexible objects which can be applied in a very short tune.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a magnetic brace which can be released instantly for inspection and massage.

Another object of thei-n-vention is to provide a portable magnetic brace using permanent magnets for stiffening magnetic powder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure for injured parts ofthe human body which will produce an automatic massaging action without the application of the hands.

One feature of the invention includes a flexible container partly filled with magnetic particles. One or more magnets are applied to this container at selected areas to cause the magnetic particles to coalesce and form a rigid mass.

Another feature of the invention includes a flexible container containing magnetic particles and an electromagnet having two pole pieces applied to selected areas of the container and a variable resistance means in series with the electromagnetic supply line to periodically alter the magnetic force and thereby produce a massaging action.

For a better understanding of the present invention together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a magnetic brace which includes an electromagnet.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the brace shown in Fig. 1 and is taken along line 22 of that figure.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of connections of a control element which may be used to vary the power delivered to the electromagnetic winding.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a magnetic brace employing a plurality of permanent magnets.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of connections similar to Fig. 3 for varying the electrical power applied to an electromagnetic winding.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 the magnetic brace comprises a flexible container 10 which may be made of cloth fabric or flexible plastic. Inside the container a quantity of magnetic particles are deposited sufficient to permit deformation of the container in order to mold its surface to conform withv an irregular object. Large flexible containers may be made with compartments, each compartment partly filled with magnetic powder to prevent the powder from accumulating in one or more large lumps and to facilitate easy and convenient handling. The container is supported by two pole pieces 11 and 12 which are formed in .a cylindrical shape. These pole pieces are held together by a non-magnetic insert 13 which also helps to retain the container in its cylindrical shape. Pole pieces 11 and 12 are secured to ends of a magnetic core 14 on which is wound a solenoid 15.

The electrical power applied to the electromagnet is controlled by a circuit 16 which may assume various forms. The control circuit may be a simple switch and variable resistance or it may assume the forms shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

The operation of the above described structure when used as a brace is as follows: the injured member, which may be a leg 17 is placed between pole pieces 11 and 12 and the flexible container 10 is packed around the member 17 so that the surface of the container conforms reasonably well to the contour of the leg. During this operation the operator sets the leg in its proper position for healing of the bone fracture or for resting when the ligaments have been sprained. Then the control circuit is operated to supply the electromagnet with the proper amount of electrical power and the magnetic particles within the container 10 coalesce and form a rigid retaining mass which keeps the member 17 in the desired position. Whenever it is desired to inspect the member or to massage the leg muscles surrounding a fracture the current is cut off and the container 10 is removed. After inspection or the massaging operation the container 10 is again slipped into place and the current is again applied to winding 15.

The above described apparatus may be used as an auto matic massaging machine exclusive of manual operation. The circuits shown in Figs. 3 and 5 are designed for such automatic operation. Terminal conductors 20 and 21 are connected to a direct current power supply and the switch 22 is closed to start the circuit into operation. A motor 23 turns a shaft 24 which operates through a gear reducing mechanism 25 and turns a contact arm 26. The contact arm makes electrical contact with a circular resistor 27 which is connected to one side of the line 20 at its upper extremity and is connected to the lower conductor 21 through a variable resistor 28 at its lower extremity. The electromagnet is connected to conductors 30 and 31 and when the contact arm 26 is at its upper position the maximum voltage is applied to conductors 30 and 31 thereby providing the electromagnet with its maximum current and producing the maximum magnet field. As the contact arm 26 is turned to its lower position the electrical power applied to the winding 15 is gradually diminished thereby relieving the retained member 17 of all strains and per mitting it to relax for a short time interval. As the arm 26 is moved from its lower to its higher position the current applied to the magnet is gradually increased and the magnetic particles again coalesce and form a rigid mass. This action is repeated until the member 17 has received sufficient exercise to keep the circulation at a normal amount. It is not always desirable to reduce the magnetic force to zero during each cycle and for this reason variable resistor 28 is added to the circuit shown in Fig. 3 to provide a small magnetic force when the contact arm 26 is in its lowest position.

The circuit shown in Fig. is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 3 and contains terminal conductors 20 and 21, a motor 23 which turns a shaft 24, a gear reduction mechanism 25, and output conductors 30, 31 which are applied to the electromagnet 15. Conductor 30 is connected to a brush 32 which bears on a shaft 33 connected to a contact assembly 34. This contact assembly may have one or a plurality of contact arms which make con tact with stationary contact buttons 35. One or more resistors 36 are connected between the contact buttons 35. The action of this circuit is as follows: when switch 22 is closed motor 23 is operated and the contact arm 34 is slowly turned. One of the arms makes contact with an end contact button and current then flows from conductor 20, through switch 22 through one .or more of resistors 36. to contact arm 34, brush 32, conductor 30, the winding 15, conductor 31, and. the terminal conductor 21. This type of operating control switches the current on and off more rapidly and in larger steps than the control unit shown in Fig. 3 but its application is sometimes more desirable than the previously described circuit.

' Fig. 4 shows an application of the same idea but using an unsupported flexible container 38 and a plurality of permanent magnets 39. These components may be assembled and held together by a string, elastic band, or a short piece of adhesive tape. It may be used for fingers or toes.

, While there have been described and illustrated specific embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the field of the invention which should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A magnetic brace for stiffening and retaining a part of the human body comprising, a flexible container partly filled with magnetic particles, said container adapted to substantially enclose said body part, said container forming an easily deformable mass when not in a magnetic field, magnetic means applied to selected areas on the surface of said container thereby producing a magnetic field which imparts rigidity to the normally deformable container.

2. A magnetic brace for stiffening and retaining a part of the human body comprising, a flexible container partly filled with magnetic particles arranged to substantially enclose said body part, said'container forming an easily deformable mass when not in a magnetic field, and a plurality of permanent magnets applied to selected areas on the surface of said container thereby causing the magnetic particles to coalesce and form a rigid mass.

3. A magnetic brace for stiflening and retaining a part of the human body comprising, a flexible container partly filled with magnetic particles arranged to substantially enclose said body part, said container forming an easily deformable mass when not'in a magnetic field, and an electromagnet having two pole pieces applied to selected areas of the surface of said container thereby causing the magnetic particles to coalesce and form a rigid mass when the electromagnet is producing a magnetic field.

4. A magnetic massaging device for holding and exercising parts of the human body comprising; a flexible container partly filled with paramagnetic particles forming a deformable mass when not in a magnetic field; an electromagnet including a set of pole pieces, a core joining said pole pieces, and a winding on the core; said container arranged to substantially enclose said body part; said pole pieces shaped so as to support said container when it is enclosing said body part; current varying means connected in series with said Winding and a source of electric power; and means for operating said current varying means whereby the container is alternately changed from a deformable mass to a substantially rigid retaining means.

5. A magnetic massaging device for holding and exercising parts of the human body comprising; a flexible con tainer partly filled with paramagnetic particles forming a deformable mass when not in a magnetic field; an electromagnet including two pole pieces, a core joining said pole pieces, and a winding on the core; said container arranged to substantially enclose said body part; said pole pieces shaped so as to support said container when it is enclosing said body part; current varying means connected in series with said winding and a source of electric power; and an electric motor connected to said current varying means which varies the current through said winding in a cyclic manner to alternately change the container from a deformable mass to a rigid retaining means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 125,006 Bazault Mar. 26, 1872 2,057,040 MacDonald Oct. 13, 1936 2,532,876 Asche et a1. Dec. 5, 1950 2,581,489 Kilham Jan. 8, 1952 2,667,237 Rabinow Ian. 26, 1954 

